Improvement in sewing-machine tables



l. T. JONES.

Sewing-Machine Tables.

Patented July 28,1874.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. JONES, OF ILION, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEWING-MACHINE TABLES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 153,438, dated July 28, 1874; application iiled January 26, 1874.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. JONES, of Ilion, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Sewing-Machine Tables, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to sewing-machine tables; and the invention consists in a novel method of constructing the table, whereby the machine may be dropped down out of the Way, so as to enable the table to be used like an ordinary table. It further consists in a peculiar construction of the hinges and fastening devices for securing the hinged and sliding parts in place, all as hereinafter more fully described.

Figure 1 is a perspective view; Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section; and Fig. 3 is a View of a portion-shown in detail.

As sewing-machine tables are usually constructed, the machine is stationary upon the table, and hence it is in the way when it is desired to use the table for any other purpose than merely to support the machine and its cover; and although some plans -have been devised for dropping the machine through or below the table-top, they have been of such a character as not to have come into use. It is also desirable to have one or more leaves hinged to the table to afford more space and support the various 'articles used, as well as the cloth while being sewed; but hitherto the hinges used for this purpose have been so constructed that they could not be used for this purpose without cutting away the molding which it is desirable to use around the under edge of the table, all of which my invention is intended to obviate.

In constructing a table on myimproved plan, I construct a skeleton top, consisting of an end piece, A. and two side pieces or strips, I, as shown in Fig. l. I then provide a sliding central portion, composed of two pieces, B and O, oi' such a size as to iit within the skeleton frame, and iill the space therein, so that, when they are slid in, they, with the parts A and I, will constitute a complete table-top of the required size, as represented in Fig. l. These parts B O are hinged together, so that when drawn out part way the part C can be turned down the same as an ordinary falling leaf of a table, they sliding in grooves formed at the inner edges ofthe side pieces I. It is obvious that instead ofthe two pieces B O a single piece may be used of the proper size, but in such case the end will proj ect when the machine israised. I then provide another piece, E, upon which the machine is mounted, this piece being of suitable width to lill the space between the side pieces I when raised to a level therewith. The rear end of this piece E I hinge to the frame of the machine by means of two bars, a, as shown in Figs. l and 2, these bars being oi' such a length that when the piece E is dropped down its front end will reach the frame at the opposite end ofthe frame, where it will rest on a couple oi' lugs'or supports, b, as shown in, Figs. l and 2, the rear end being supported by the bars c, as shown, care being taken also to hinge the opposite ends of these bars a to the frame at such a height that when the piece E is raised it will come level with the table, as shown in Fig. 2.

`With these parts thus constructed, it will be seen that by sliding the parts B O outward, the piece E, with the machine thereon, can be lifted or swung up into place ready for use, when, by sliding the partsB C back until the part O comes against the piece E, the latter will be held in place, the front end of E resting on lugs c, secured to the under side of the part O, as shown in Fig. 2, or, instead of the lugs c, a strip may be arranged to extend entirely across the part O, or the adjoining ends of the pieces G and E may be rabbeted, so as to forni a shoulder that will support the piece E, in which case the end piece A would require to be correspondingly rabbeted, so that when the sliding top was shoved in, as in Fig.

l, it would form a close joint.

In order to secure the sliding top in place, and also support the hinged part B, I construct a locking-lever, d, as shown in Fig. 3, and pivot it in a recess upon the top of a crosspiece, 7c, secured crosswise to the frame at that end of 4thetable. As shown in Fig. 3, this lever cl is slotted, so it can be shoved endwise on its pivot, and it also has a projecting shoulder, l, on its inner end, to engag.D against a corresponding shoulder formed on the bar lc. At its outer end'I secure to this lever a knob or handle, h, the point of which extends through and projects beyond the upper face of the lever, as shown in Fig. 2. In the under side of the part B I cut a groove of such a form that, when the part Eis raised and the sliding parts are shoved back against it, as represented in Fig. 2, the lever d can be swung around in line with the table, with the projecting point of the knob h resting in this groove, thereby locking the sliding parts B G securely in place, and at the same time supporting the part B in a horizontal position. When these parts are shoved in, as in Fig. 1, the lever d is shoved endwise, so that its shoulder l will come in front ofthe shoulder on the bar c, as shown in Fig. 3, which will draw the projecting point of the knob h in front of the outer end of the part B, thereby locking the parts B C in place. In order to make. the table still larger I hinge a leaf, D, to its rear or right-hand end; and to enable this to be done without cutting away the molding underneath the end of the table I construct a hinge, e, with two downwardly projecting arms, as shown in Fig. 2. In order to bring the joint of the hinge behind the molding I make the arm of that part of the hinge which is to be secured to the leaf longer than the other, and curve it so that it will reach around behind the molding, as shown, where it is joined to the other part ofthe hin ge.

It is obvious that a hinge thus formed mayv be used to secure a lea-il to any sewing-machine table without cutting away the molding' which is secured to the under side thereof'.

In order to support the leaf when raised I hinge to its underside a curved bar, f, as represented in Fig. 2, its opposite end having a notch formed in its under side, and passing loosely through a slotted stud or arm, g, projecting vertically from the under side of the stationary part of the table, or which may be attached to or made a part of the frame. When the leaf is raised the curved bar f will be drawn outward through the slot in the arm g, and when the leaf is raised to a horizontal position the free end of the brace f will drop down, causing its shoulder or notch to engage with the arm g, thereby automatically locking the leaf up. When it is desired to drop the leaf it is only necessary to raise the inner end of the brace f, and disengage its shoulder from the ai'irl g, and then let the leaf down, the brace sliding back through the slot in the arm g, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. If desired the parts may be reversed in position-that is, the brace f may be secured to the frame or the table, and the part g may be attached to the leaf, the operation being the same.

It is obvious that, if desired, a cover may be placed over the machine on the piece E, and left thereon, when dropped below the table, to protect it from dust or injury; or, in lieu thereof, curtains may be suspended from the table in such a manner as to inclose it when lowered.

By these means I am enabled to produce a sewing-machine table which, while serving the ordinary purpose of supporting the machine, can also be converted into a table for other uses, and that can be enlarged at will. I also am enabled to hinge a leaf to sewing-machine tables without` dsliguring or weakening them by cutting the molding attached to the table.

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim is l. The board E, having the machine mounted thereon, in combination with the rods a, hav,- ing one end hinged to the board E, and their opposite ends to the frame, whereby the machine can be raised to a level with the table,

or swung below the table and supported there, i

substantially as shown and described.

2. A sewing-machine table consisting of the skeleton frame, and the central sliding por' tions B C, constructed and arranged to operate as shown and described.

3. In combination with the sliding top B C, the locking and supporting lever d, constructed to operate as described.

4. InV combination with the table and leaf, the curved or projecting hinge e, whereby the leaf can be attached to the table without removing or cutting away the molding on `the` under side of the table, as set forth.

JOHN T. JONES.

llVitnesses GEO. O. RAsBAoH, ALONZO VosBURGn. 

